Interesting start in CAD. CADDS3 I assume then. Same for me and to this day think was one of the best systems I ever worked on.

Anyway, we are in violent agreement. I am not suggesting and do not advocate "limited dimensioning" or limited manufacturing information. I do believe in the generic principle of a "complete definition of the part and all feature requirements". However, I am saying that we can achieve that objective faster and more reliably, including updates/revisions, through the use of 3D annotation and appropriate systems in place to make it all available to anyone faster.

As for the whole paper thing, it is extremely easy to print out the screen image of any 3D model in any orientation with whatever set of dimesnions or all dimensions turned on and thus put it on paper if desired. That means that if my supplier does not want to make a minor investment in a simple viewer; not to mention the "FREE" adobe 3D viewer, then I can simply print all the information out onto paper in a reasonably traditional form from the 3D model. In fact, some companies have macro programs just for that purpose.

The value in my suggested process is that the "complete" annotation of part requirements is faster then creating the 2D drawing. Yes, fundamental "drafting skills, even in 3D, is still required and so yes the trraining still has to be there. The added value, similar to the shear value of a 3D model for generating parts/tooling/NC code, is that with the right tool for using 3D annotation also allows that annotation to be used downstream in other functional groups such as tolerance analysis, manufacturing, inspection, and reporting making all of that far more efficient and accurate.

So, again, if anything I am absolutely all about having "complete part defintion" and 3D annotation offers that faster and better.... Faster & Easier to create, Faster and Easier to read, Faster and Easier to Update, Faster and Easier to apply downstream.

BTW - feel free to contact me direct by e-mail or phone. Info listed at the end of the article. I always enjoy debating and learning different points of view.